L72.11 — Pilar cyst
ICD-10-CM
Prior Authorization
No Prior Auth Required
Code is covered without prior authorization (high confidence)
Documentation Required
- Legible medical records must reference the patient's complaint or the physician's physical findings when billing with diagnosis L82.0.
- Documentation must support a significant, separately identifiable E/M service when modifier 25 is appended (separate E/M note tied to the visit and not just the procedure).
- Verify applicable procedure and global policy coding via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) to determine where the global surgical policy applies.
- Medical record must include the ordering provider's assessment related to the patient's complaint, relevant medical history, and results of pertinent tests/procedures.
Key Coverage Criteria
- Removal of benign or malignant skin lesions is addressed per the Local Coverage Determination L33445 and related billing/coding guidance.
- Diagnosis code L82.0 (inflamed seborrheic keratosis) may be used when the medical record documents the patient's complaint or the physician's physical findings for the lesion.
- Excision of a benign skin lesion is covered when there is clinical suspicion of malignancy (e.g., ICD-10-CM D48.5) documented in the medical record.
- Removal is covered to address disturbance of skin sensation when documented (ICD-10-CM R20.0-R20.3, R20.8).
- Removal is covered when documented objective changes (e.g., increase in size) support a diagnosis warranting excision.
- Removal of a benign lesion is covered when the treating physician documents medical necessity for removal (physician judgment that lesion merits removal).
13 Active Policies
L35498 — Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J05
A57482 — Billing and Coding: Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J05
L34938 — Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J12
A57113 — Billing and Coding: Removal of Benign Skin Lesions
J12
A57161 — Billing and Coding: Benign Skin Lesion Removal (Excludes Actinic Keratosis, and Mohs)
Related Codes
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